Teen accused of setting home on fire, chasing neighbor, causing school lockdown

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Updated: 1:30 PM EST Jan 26, 2018

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WEBVTT ARRESTED NEAR THISELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUTINVESTIGATORS SAY THE CRIMESPREE STARTED LESS THAN A HALFMILE AWAY, WITH A FIRE.FURNITURE ON THE LAWN THE FRONTWINDOW SHATTERED.THE FIRE STARTED JUST AFTER10:30 THURSDAY MORNING IN THE900-BLOCK OF BARDSWELL ROAD.BALTIMORE COUNTY FIREFIGHTERSGOT IT UNDER CONTROL IN LESSTHAN 10-MINUTES POLICE SAY IT'SARSON.>> WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TODETERMINE IS A JUVENILE SET THEHOUSE HE LIVED IN ON FIRE.VANESSA: POLICE SAY THE SUSPECTIS 16-YEARS-OLD.AFTER STARTING THE FIRE,INVESTIGATORS SAY HE CHASED ANEIGHBOR ON BARDSWELL ROAD WITHA SHARP OBJECT OR GARDEN TOOL.>> WE ARE CONTINUING TOINVESTIGATE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUTWHAT EXACTLY HE CHASED THE MANWITH.VANESSA: A SHORT TIME LATER,POLICE GOT A CALL FROMJOHNNYCAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.>> WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO, THEJUVENILE WALKED INTO THEBUILDING.HE STARTED TO WALK AROUND.VANESSA: THE SCHOOL WASIMMEDIATELY PLACED ON LOCKDOWN.>> OUR TEACHER WAS STANDING ATTHE DOOR AND SHE HELD A CLOSED.VANESSA: INVESTIGATORS SAY THESUSPECT TRIED TO STEAL SOMEPROPERTY BUT LEFT THE BUILDINGWHEN SCHOOL OFFICIALS APPROACHEDHIM.HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ASHORT TIME LATER.SCHOOL OFFICIALS SENT THISLETTER HOME TO PARENTS LETTINGTHEM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.>> I AM GLAD THAT THE KIDS AREOK.>> WE ARE LOOKING INTOPOSSIBILITIES OVER WHAT CAUSEDTHIS.NOT SURE WE ARE GOING TO SUBMITTHIS JUVENILE INTO A MENTALABOUT YOU ASIAN.CHARGES WILL BE COMING FORWARD.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged as an adult in a bizarre incident in Catonsville in which he is accused of setting a house on fire and chasing a man with a weapon.

Police said Daquane Antonio Ray has been charged with first-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, two counts of first-degree assault, second-degree assault and theft charges. Ray will be held at the Baltimore County Department of Corrections.

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Baltimore County police said the suspect also went into Johnnycake Elementary School, which caused the school to be placed on lockdown.

Police said they aren't sure what motivated the 16-year-old.

The fire started just after 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the 900 block of Bardswell Road. Baltimore County firefighters were able to get it under control in under 10 minutes.

"What we've been able to determine is that a juvenile set the house that he lived in on fire," said Shawn Vinson, of the Baltimore County Police Department.

After starting the fire, investigators said, the boy chased a neighbor with a sharp object or garden tool.

"We're continuing to investigate to try to see what, exactly, he chased this man with," Vinson said.

A short time after that incident, police said, they received a call from Johnnycake Elementary School.

"What he was able to do is, as someone was walking out of the building, the juvenile walked into the building. Once he was inside the school, he started to walk around," Vinson said.

The school was immediately placed on lockdown.

"We didn't know what to do, but our teacher was standing at the door and she held the door closed," said third-grader Jahmil Glascoe.

Investigators said the suspect tried to steal some property, but left the building when school officials approached him.

He was taken into custody a short time later.

School officials sent a letter home to parents letting them know what happened.

"I'm glad that the kids are OK and my child is OK, and the teacher knew what to do at the time," said parent Shanikka King.

"Right now, we're looking into possibilities of what caused this. I'm not sure if we're going to submit this (as a) juvenile (case) or not, but charges will be coming forward once we decide exactly what we're going to do," Vinson said.